Automatic reclosing mechanism



Dec. 20, 1927.

- 1,653,404 G. H. MIUELEMI$$ AUTOMATIC RECLOSING MECHANISM Filed June20, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet l Mnmam 3%.

Dec. 20, 1927.

G. H. MEDDLENUSS AUTOMATIC RECLOSING MECHANISM Filed June 20, 1924 8Sheets-Sheet 2 fiaoszaaHMmmwuas.

Dec. 20, 1927. 1,653,404

G. H. MIDDLEMISS AUTOMATIC RECLOS ING MECHANISM Filed June 20, 1924 8Sheets-Sheet 3 if M #1 gwvemfoz ChlOtlu';

8 Sheets-Sheet 4 lfll:

Gamma H. Mwmmss Dec. 20, 1927.

G. H. MIDDLEMlSS AUTOMATIC RECLOSING MECHANISM Filed June 20, 1924 G. H.MEQDLEMEfiEE AUTOMATIC RECLOS ING MECHANISM Filed June 20, 1924 8 sheetssheet H. EVHDDLEMHSS AUTOMATIC RECLOSING MECHANISM Filed June 20, 1924 8Sheets Sheet 6 I 3111mm foz HQ MHDDLEWHSES AUTOMATIC RECLOS lNGMECHANISM Filed June 20, 1924 innu GEORGE HEIi'l'RY MIDDLEMISS, 0FBIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

AUTOMATIC RECLOSING MECHANISM.

Application filed June 20, 1924. Serial No. 721,358.

This invention relates to electric current distribution and has specialreference to controlling devices for power circuits and particularly toan automatic reclosing mechanism. e

In the operation of electric power plants it frequently happens thatconditions arise on a circuit which temporarily cause such in-' creaseof current as to endanger the translating devices connected to thecircuit. To prevent injuryunder such conditions it is usual to provide,at the power house or substation, an overload circuit breaker to affordthe proper protection to the line and translating devices. I haveheretofore devised apparatus for reclosing such circuit breakers, undercertain conditions, without the intervention of manual means and suchdevices and others used in connection with the present invention havebeen shown and described in'my copending applications, 581,749 forautomatic switch reclosing devices, 646,883 for switch controllingdevices, and 673,865 for power distributing system. Each of the firsttwo of these applications discloses a single circuit breaker or switchcontrolled by a novelmechanism which involves considerable apparatus andit has been found that the employment of a separate apparatus for eachof the switches on a switch panel or board involves considerablecomplication and expense.

One important object-of the present invention is to provide as improvedarrangement wherein a single control apparatus may be used to controla'series of switches thereby reducing. complication and expense.

In the reclosing apparatus forming the subject matter of such devices,the rec osing operationwas arranged to take place at fixed timeintervals under all conditions. That is to say, the apparatus, being setto ,reclose in one minute after the circuit is broken, will close thecircuit at that time and if the trouble causing the opening of thecircuit breaker persists the circuit will again be broken and againreclosed at an interval of one minute. It frequently happens that thetrouble is only momentary, lasting perhaps a fraction of a second orjust long enough to cause opening of the circuit breaker. To wait oneminute for the reclosing then becomes unnecessary and wastes time.

A second important object of the present invention is to provide animproved form of v Figure 3 but with m prior applications for apparatusfor reclosing the circuit the first time much more quickly than thereclosing is effected the second time. 'For instance, the firstreclosing after the circuit breaker trips may be arranged'to take placeat an peratures, so that, if the trouble still continues after thissecond reclosing, the switch will be in better condition toaccomplishthe third breaking of the circuit the third time.

Figure 1 is an elevation showing an apparatus constructed inaccordance/with this invention.

Figure '2 is a front view of a gang ofsuch switches connected to asingle reclosing device.

Figure 3 is a detail elevation showing the reclosing device and one ofthe switch controls in closed position.

Figure 4 is. a detail elevation similar to the reclosing device in a dfferent position and acertain telescopic link of t e switch controllingdevice expanded.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the switch controllingdevice in opened position.

Figure 6 is' a detail view showing the action of the trip mechanism.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is aview similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of thedevice.

' Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view of the trip mechanism shown inFigure 8, the view being partly in section.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure l but showing a secondmodification of the arrangement.

Figure 11 is a view showing a further modification .in plan, the viewgrammatic in character.

Figure 12-is a detail elevation of part of the mechanism alsodiagrammatic.

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic view showing being diaan improvedarrangement of reclosing de vice.

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail showing a side elevation of a certaincircuit closer used in connection with the arrangement shown in Figure13.

Figure is a plan view theerot.

Consider first oi all the apparatus for closing and opening one of theswitches. ln Figure 1 there is disclosed a panel 19 which is supportedby suitable frame l1 whereon is mounted aswitch 12 from which leads theusual wiring connections 13 and 1a. This switch has an operating lever15 and to the end of this lever and to the frame are pivotally connectedthe ends of a toggle joint 16. T the center pivot of this toggle ispivoted an arm 1! which passes through the panel and has its outer orfront end a slot 18 provided with an u turned extremity 19 at its trcntend. 8n the panel 10 is mounted an overload trip coil 20. The overloadtrip coil h carries an arm 21 so positioned that when an'overloadioccursthrough trouble on the line this arm will rise and strilre the underside of the bar 17 so that the bar is lifted. Pivoted to the trip coilhousing is a hellcrank lever having a vertical arm 22 and a forwardlyextending arm 23. On the vertical arm is a pin 24 which engages in theslot 19. Above the switch there is provided a bracket 25 and to thisbracket is pivoted a latch member 26 which normally engages a pin 27 onthe Vertical arm 22. The end of this latch member is provided with aninclined surface 28. Pivoted intermediate its ends to the arm 22 is atrip lever 29, the lower end of which vided with a rotary cam 33 whichoperates one end of a. lever 34 suitably pivoted to operate under theinfluence of this rotary cam and having one arm which extends outbeneath the arm 23, being understood that this description applies to asingle switch. However, it two or more switches are used the arm of thelever which is controlled by the cam 33 is fixed to the shait 35 andsimilarly the other arm of lever is tired to this shaft at a suitablepoint. 'llaelevers 23 and 34 are connected by an extensible telescopicmember which has lower tubular section 36 open at its upper end, and atthe lower end to the lever tubular section slides telescopic.

inmates per tubular section 37. @n the section 37 is a collar 38 securedto the section 39 which passes through the collar and secures the samein position. Also this pin acts as the connecting point of a tenslonspring ll) which has extensions down through the tubular section and isconnected to a pin ll at the lower end of the lower section 36'.

Now let it be supposed that overload coil 20 operates, through lineconditions, to throw up the arm 21. Then this arm will release the bar17 and permit the same to move forwardly thus letting the lever 15 dropand opening the main switch 12. As this bar 17 moves forwardly the lug30 con tacts with the lower end of the lever 22 and rocks it to knockoil the trip 26 "from the pin 27. This permits the lever 23 to moveoutwardly and the bar 117 to drop slightly so that the end 19 againengages the pin 24: thus connecting the bar 17 in such manner that whenthe lever arm 23 is moved upwardly the switch will he again closed. Itthe device 32 operates prior to the energization of the coil 20 thenthesleeve 36 will be pulled down thus placing the spring 40 under tension.Under these circumstances the trip coil 20, in operating, will act aspreviously described and the lever arm 23 will be quickly jerked down.

Now considering further the arrangement as shown in Figure 2 it will beseen that, instead ot a single switch a gang of switches, four innumber, has been shown and that these are arranged to be operated by asingle reclosing apparatus. These difierent switches are all of the typejust described and each controls an individual circuit. These switchesare indicated respectively at A, B, C and D. Under normal conditions ofoperation all the switches are closed. It, now an overload occurs on theline controlled by switch A then the breaker of this circuit trips andby wiring connections which will presently be described, the auxiliaryswitch closes. This starts the reclosing device and under the influenceof the cam of that apparatus the rock shaft 35 rotates so that theseveral telescopic rods are pulled down. Since the lever arm 22 ofswitch .A. has been unlatched this arm now swings out but the lever armsof the other switches do not swing out since they remain latched.Instead the extensible rods are extended. As the reclosing apparatuscontinues to operate the cam turns to such osition. that the lever 34 ispermitted to rise and thus the switch mechanism A closes quickly andsmoothly.

if, during the time the switch A is open.

one of the other circuits he so allot-ted as to open its overloadcircuit hrcakcr and thus effect release of its lever arm 22, the spring7% oil that switch will c tpse the extended expansihle linlr and leverarm 22 will be lll lll

nesaaoa quickly swung to forward position so that closing movement ofthelever 34 will close that switch at the same time asthe switch-A isclosed. U1 course, it trouble persists on any circuit the switchpertaining to that cir cuit will again open, the remaining switchesstaying closed. It is obvious that any number of switches may thus berecloseol by a single reclosing apparatus.

in other words, if two or more breakers open simultaneously all willremain open for the same length of time but it two or more breakers openin succession within the time set for closing after the first of theseopens say one minute) then all will be closed one minute after the firstopens.

The foregoing description applies to a reclosing device wherein a'cutoutgear train such as is shown in Figure l of my prior application 581,?el9and including the elements indicated by the reference characters 20 to29 inclusive is employed. However, under certain conditions such a cutout will inter-' tere with the full operation of the device to alwaysclose all the switches. This may be understood it it is considered thatthe out out of the automatic reclosing device is so been reclosed andswitch l) would not be reclosed. Again, it there should be persistenttrouble upon the line connected to switch A, the reclosing apparatuswould lock out after three consecutive operations of this switch and thercclosing device would become inoperative as regards the remainingswitches. in order to overcome this objection to the operation or a gangof switches or circuit breakers by such a reclosing device, the cutoutmechanism may be omitted from the reciosing device and certainmodifications may be used in the panel supported elements.

line such modification is shown in Figures 8 and 9 wherein the parts arein most respects identical to like parts in Figure 1 except that anelectric trip mechanism is used in place or the mechanical latch tripthere shown. in this case the lever arm 22 is pro vidcd with a pin 4-2which is engaged by a latch 43 attached to the core of a solenoid i landas seen in the diagram, one terminal oi this solenoid-is attached by awire 45 to a main 46 while its other terminal is connected to said main46 by a wire all, a notchine' relay coil 48 being arranged in series onthe last mentioned wire. Fron'rthe neutral main 49 a wire 50 leads tothe wire 47 through one pair of the contacts of the notching relay andthrough one pair of the contacts of the auxiliary switch 20, theremaining pairs or? .contacts of. said switches being connected to themain a9 and wire why a wire 51.

lhe notching relay above referred to is a device for controlling theopening and closing of circuits wherein a closed circuit will only beopened alter a definite number of energizations of the relay magnet orsolenoid. Such a relay is well known in the art and a type thereot isshown in G. E. Review, 1919, vol. 22, page 899.

Assumingthat the notching relay used is such as to open the circuitcontrolled there.- by after two consecutive energizations and thatswitch A opens. Then the auxiliary switch will close and current willflow through the tripping solenoid at thus releasing the arm 22. This,of course, will not atfect the other switches of a bank or set. Also,the closing of the auxiliary switch will start the reclosing device andreclose the switch A as previously set it'orth. Fersistent troubleellects successive openings of the switch A and after two energizationsof the I relay coil the contacts will open so that the auxiliary switch20 for switch A. will be disconnected from the recloser. The remainingswitches B, C and D will be unaffected by this cutting out of switch 20for A and thus will continue in edective condition for reclosingoperations should any one or more of said switches open. Thus any of theoilcuit breakers will, under persistent trouble, cut itself out withoutafiecting the remaining breakers.

Another modification of this arrange ment is that shown in Figure 10. inthis form, the bell crank lever on the front of the panelis replaced bya straight lever 52 which is connected by a link with one arm or" thebell crank 53 pivoted to the bracket 5t mounted'on the back of a panel.The linlc55, connects the remaining arm or this hell crank with one armof a second bell crank 56 pivoted to a door stand 57. The

remaining arm of this second bell crank is connected by a link 58 withone arm of a third bell crank 59 which is pivoted to a iloor stand 60and has its remaining arm connected by a linlr 61 with the oil breakerswitch 12. The casing for the reclosing apparatus is shown at 62 and onthe main shalt 63 of the apparatus is mounted trip :tree mechanism 64-vsuch as is shown and described in my copendingr application No. 673,865tiled November 9.. i923. The arm 65 of this device is provided with aslot 68 which engages over a pin-67 lined on the link 61.

A second arm 68' is fixed to the shaft 63 and is actuated by the cam 69.

in connection with'this figure a typical wiring diagram is shown whereina notchino relay and auxiliary contact switch are employed as describedin connection with l igure 8. However, the wiring in pres breaker dropsopen.

ent modification is somewhat different as will now be seen. Theconnections to the mains are indicated at 69 and 7 0 and from theconnection 69 extends a wire 71 while a wire 72 leads from 70. A wire 73leads from wire 72 to one of a pair of normally open contacts 7% in thenotching relay 7 5. From the other of this pair contacts a wire 76 leadsto the solenoid or trip coil of the trip release mechanism 64, a wire 77connecting the remaining terminal of said solenoid with a wire 78leading to the motor of the reclosing device in the casing 62. Also awire 80 connects the wires 71 and 72 and interposed in series in thisconnection is a pair of normally closed contacts 81 in the notchingrelay a pair of normallyi open contacts 82 in the auxiliary contactswitch 84, and the operating coil of the notching relay. In like mannera wire 86 connects the wires 71 and 78 through normally closed contactsin thenotching relay and normally open contacts in the auxiliary contactswitch.

With the arrangement shown in this modification it-will be readilyunderstood that the action is the same as that or the modification shownin Figures 8 and 9 except that the out out of any swich 12 fromoperation is eilected by the notching relay closing the contacts 74. andthus establishing a circuit through the solenoid of the trip mechanism64. A trip release relay 87 is also provided which includes-a fixedcontact 88 and a movable contact 89 held against the fixed contact bycurrent flowing through the relay coils, these being connected to wiring90 leading from" the coil 20. The contact 88 is connected by a wire 91with the wire 76 and the contact 89 is ccnnected by a wire 92 with thewire 72. Thus energizetion of the relay 87 willestablish a circuitbetween the wires 72 and 78 and through the solenoid of the tripmechanism 6% each time the coil 20 is energized. I

The action now is as follows :It the breaker A trips from an abnormalcurrent in the circuit connected to it the trip coils 20 on the panelare energized and the breaker mechanism isreleased at that point.Simultaneously the solenoid of the trip release 64 is energized and thetrip release freed from the shaft 63. These two tripping actions elfecta complete release oi. the link and bell crank system and the As soon asthe breaker drops open the auxiliary contact switch closes, thus puttingthe reclosing device into operation.

As soon as the breaker trips, the circuit connected thereto is killed,and current no longer stays in the trip circuit. Therefore, the triprelease relay contacts are open, and as gang shaft 63 rotates, theratchet wheel inside trip release housing ire-engages with the roller,and as gan shaft moves for closing operation of brea er, the triprelease houslng and lever arm are carried with it, thus effecting aclosing of the breaker.

The notching relay is provided with an additional set of contacts, sothat, say, after two consecutive operations, two of the sets of contactsare open, and the other set of contacts is closed. Now assume persistenttrouble upon the circuit controlled by breaker 1, then the notchingrelay will disconnect auxiliary contact switch at'ter two consecutivereclosings, but will likewise close contacts to energize the triprelease coil, so that in case any other breaker trips out, the latchrelease coil of breaker 1 is energized, thus effecting a disconnectionof the housing from the gang shaft, and there fore transmitting nomotion to breaker 1.

The same principle of operation applies for any other breaker connectedto the gang shaft.

In Figures 11 and 12 a still further modilication is diagrammaticallyshown. In these figures the several parts are much like the lastarrangement except for certain auxiliary switches and wiring as will nowbe described. Each main switch (of which only two are here shown) orbreaker carries with it a movable member 93 which opens and closesconnection between two contacts 94. One of these contacts is connectedto a feed wire 95 and the other to a wire 96 leading to the motor of thereclosing device, a wire 97 also leading to this motor. On the panel orface plate are the trip coil solenoids and their plungers as shown at98. The connections to these coils are not deemed necessary to show inthis modification as they have already been described. Each plunger isarranged to close an auxiliary switch 99 con nected in series to thecoil of a trip free mechanism er by a wire 100 and to the wire 97 inmultiple by a wire 101. Also each trip free mechanism is connected tothe wire 95 by a wire 102.

The reclosing device proposed has a special duty cycle as follows:lVhenbreaker trips automatically, same will be reclosed within ten seconds.breaker trips the second time, same will be reclosed thereafter at theend of one minute. The time interval for the first rcclosing can bevaried from one minute to five seconds, in accordance with customerswishes, but subsequent consecutive reclosings have a one minuteinterval.

The operation isas lollows;-

Suppose breaker B trips automatically;

switch rod of breaker will drop to open position and trip coil of triprelease mechanism will more so that ratchet wheel to shalt immediatelyengages the trigger. The closing of the auxiliary contact switch onore-ale er B starts the reclosing device and, in ten If troublepersists, and

lll

insanelseconds, the movement of the roller along the vertical face ofthe cam closes breaker B. Breaker A, not having opened, the switch rodisas shown in closed position, and shaft in. ratchet wheel idly rotatesin trip release mechanism.

b'uppose persistent trouble on circuit connected to breaker B; thenfirst reclosing is performed as described above, but as soon as breakerB is reclosed the first time, face plate trip coil immediately operatesand its contacts close to energize the coil of trip release mechanism,lifting trigger-to permit opening of breaker. The auxiliary switch, ofcourse, immediately closes when breaker opens-and the rcclosing devicecontinues in operation sothat in one minute the movement of the camroller along the vertical face of the cam, closes breaker B the secondtime. At this point, tripping occurs again, but. a small furthermovement of the reclosing device opens the lookout switch and furtherreclosing is stopped.

"Under gang operation, if breakers A and B open simultaneously, bothwill be reclosed in ten seconds. it seconds thereafter breaker A opens,then breaker B will be closed in ten seconds and breaker A will beclosed in one minute. .If there is persistent trouble on thecircuitcontrolled by breaker B, and reclosing device locks out, then breaker Ais non-reclosing until an operator can be sent to the station todisconnect the control wiring of breaker l3 and reclosc lockout switchfor reclosing of breaker A, should same open.

in the above arrangement it is to be noted that the switches perform thesame duty as the trip release relay before described;

in Figures 13, id and 15 is shown the arrangement whereby the reclosingdevice acts to make its first reclosing in a much shorter time than thesubsequent reclosin This operation is preferably termed a recovery cycleand is accomplished by the addition of a certain circuit closer to theapparatus fully described my copending. application- 581549 andparticularly illustrated in Figure 4 of that application. Figure 13 issubstantially a duplicate of the just mentioned figure of the copendingapplication with certain additions and wherever necessary to refer toparts of the apparatus common to both the reference characters formerlyused will be here used. with the addition of a lower case letter a,

Figure 13 then, the main shaft is indicatedat 19 and s driven by themotor M. Also the leads to the reclosing device shown at 4:2- and 413%Mounted upon the shaft 19 is commutator 10% which may be insulated fromthe shaft and is provided with a notch hi in its periphery. Adjacentthis commutator is fixed an insulating block 106 which are the ends ofbreaker B opens and ten spring fingers or brushes 107 having depressedends 108 resting on the commutator and dropping into the notch 105 asthe latter rotates so that the connection between the fingers is brokenupon the notch being reached, One of these fingers is connected by awire109 with the lead 42 and the other by a wire 110 with l3 Thus thesebrushes are connected in parallel with contacts 3 and a which are thesame as the contacts of the auxiliary switch previously described andare open in the closed position of the main circuit breaker l2. lfnoperation the tripping of the main circuit breaker closes contacts. 3and d thus connecting the mo tor in circuit and startingthe reclosingdevice. At the time of starting the fingers 107 are out of connection astheir ends'rest in the notch 105 and the cam 33 of the reclosing deviceis in such position that the roller 12 is almost ready to drop down thestraight side of the cam. Thus a very small move ment of the cam tripsthe lever 3d and recloses the switch as previously described. The extentof this movement, and conse quently the time of reclosing'fls regulatedby the position of-the cam on its shaft ll and by the position of thenotch 105 because as soon as the reclosing is effected the auxiliaryswitch contacts 3 and l open and the motor circuit is ooened as far asregards any flow of current through these contacts, However, as soon asmovement of the shaft 19 starts the fingers 107 ride on the commutatorsur face dand' the motor is kept in circuit through these fingers untilthe notch 105 again is in position to open contact between thecommutator and fingers whereupon current will cease'to flow through themotor until circuit is reestablished through the con .tacts Wand d; Thusif the normal reclosing is "to he cheated-one minute after the break eroperates and the notch 105 be positioned so that. the commutator makesone twentieth of a revolution before the lever drops, the, firstreclosing will beeffected in three seconds and the second in one minute,

Having thus described the inventiomwhat is claimed as new, is:

it. In combination, a main circuit breaker, a reclosing device includinga lever mounted for oscillation and electric motor driven means foroscillating the lever, a second lever pivoted adjacent the main breaker,a link connecting the breaker and second lever and arranged foroperative engagement with v and disenga ement from the second lever, alatch contro ling the movement of the second lever in one direction,circuit controlled means to disengage the link and second lever,

till

other means to release said latch from the a lSll for oscillation andelectric motor driven means for oscillating the lever, a second leverpivoted adjacent the main breaker, a link connectin the breaker andsecond lever and arranged for operative engagement with anddisengagement from the second lever, a latch controlling the movement ofthe second lever in one direction, circuit controlled means to disengagethe link and second lever, a circuit controlled trip for said latch, anda resilient connection between said levers.

3. In combination, a series of main circuit breakers, a reclosing deviceincluding an oscillatory lever and electric motor means for oscillatingthe lover, a rock shaft on which said lever is fixed, a series of rocklevers fixed to the rock shaft, operative connections between respectivebreakers and rock levers each including a resiliently extensible link,and circuit controlled latching means for each connection, each latchingmeansbeing controlled by circuit conditions in the circuit closed andopened by the respective breaker.

4. In combination, a plurality of main circuit breakers, a reclosingdevice, and independent operative connections between the breakers andreclosing device each including an extensible and collapsible linkcomprising sections, one longitudinally slidable with respect to theother, and means yieldably holding said sections in normal relation toeach other, and means to cut out the several operativeconnections'arranged to act on a re spective connection upon theconnection operating to reclose its breaker a predetermined number oftimes. I

5. In combination, a plurality of main circuit breakers, a reclosingdevice, and inde pendent operative connections between the breakers andreclosing device each including a link consisting of a pair oftelescopically arranged tubes, and a tension spring yieldably holdingthe tubes in collapsed relation, and means to cut out the severaloperative connections arranged to act on a respective connection uponthe connection operating to reclose its breaker a predetermined numberof times.

6. In combination, a main circuit breaker, a reclosing device, and anoperative connection between said breaker and reclosing de viceincluding an extensible and collapsible link comprising sections onelongitudinally slidable with respect to the other, and means yieldablyholding said sections in normal relation to each other, said reclosingdevice being provided with electrical control means arranged to eii'ectprimary reclosing at a predetermined relatively short time interval anda secondary reclosing at a relatively long time interval.

7. in combination, a main circuit breaker. reclosmg device, and anoperative connection between the breaker and reclosing device andincluding a link consisting of a pair of telescopically arrange-d tubes,and a tension spring yieldably holding the tubes in col lapsed relation,said reclosing device being provided with electrical control meansarranged to effect primary reclosing at a predetermined relatively shorttime interval and a secondary reclosing at a relatively long timeinterval.

8. In combination, a main circuit breaker, a reclosing device includinga lever mounted for oscillation, means to oscillate the lever and anelectric motor to operate said means, a normally latched trip device, anoperative connection between the trip device and lever and including ayieldingly extensible link, an operative connection between the breakerand trip device, and circuit controlled means for unlatching the tripdevice, said reclosing device being provided with electrical controlmeans arranged to effect primary reclosing at a predetermined relativelyshort time interval and a secondary reclosing at a relatively long timeinterval.

9. In combination, a main circuit breaker, a reclosing device includinga lever mounted for oscillation and electric motor driven means foroscillating the lever, a second lever pivoted adjacent the main breaker,a link connecting the breaker and second lever and arranged foroperative engagement with and disengagement from the second lever, alatch controlling the movement of the second lever in one direction,circuit controlled means to disengage the link and second lever, othermeans to release said latch from the second lever operable insubstantial synchronism with the circuit controlled means, and aresilient connection between said levers, said reclosing device beingprovided with electrical control means arranged to effect primaryreclosing at a predetermined relatively shorttime interval and asecondary reclosing at a relatively long time interval.

10. In combination, a main circuit breaker, a reclosing device includinga lever mounted for oscillation and electric motor driven means foroscillating the lever, a second lever pivoted adjacent the main breaker,a link connecting the breaker and second lever and arranged foroperative engagement with and disengagement from the second lever, alatch controlling the movement of the second lever in one direction,circuit controlled means to disengage the link and second lever. acircuit controlled trip for said latch, and a resilient connectionbetween said levers, said rcclosing device being provided withelectrical control means arranged to effect primary reclosing at apredetermined relatively short time in terval and a secondary rcclosing'at a l8lLitively long time interval.

ll. In combination, a plurality of main circuit breakers, a rcclosingdevice. and independent operative connections bctwecn the .III

lull

breakers and reclosing device each including an extensible andcollapsible link comprising sections one longitudinally slidable withrespect to the other, and means yieldably holding said sections innormal relation to each other, said reclosing device being provided withelectrical control means arranged to effect primary reclosing of arespective breaker at a predetermined relatively short time interval anda secondary reclosing of said breaker at a relatively long timeinterval.

12. In combination, a plurality of main circuit breakers, a reclosingdevice, and independent operative connections between the breakers andreclosing device each including a link consisting of a pair oftelescopically arranged tubes, and a tension spring yieldably holdingthe tubes in collapsed relation, said reclosingl device being providedwith electrical control means arranged to eflect primary reelosing ofarespective breaker at apredetermined relatively short time interval anda secondary reclosing of said breaker at a relatively long timeinterval.

13. In combination, a plurality of main circuit breakers, a reclosingdevice, and in-- dependent operative connections between the breakersand reclosing device each, a normally latched trip device for eachbreaker, operative connections between the trip devices and levers andeach including a yieldably extensible link, an operative connectionbetween each breaker and its trip, and a circuit controlled means forunlatching each trip device actuated by abnormal conditions in thecircuit controlled by the respective breaker, said reclosing device being provided with electrical control means arranged to effect primary.reclosing of .a respective breaker at a predetermined rela tively shorttime interval and a secondary reclosing of said breaker at a relativelylong time interval.

14-. In combination, a series of main circuit breakers, a reclosingdevice including an, oscillatory lever and electric motor means foroscillating the lever, a rock shaft on which said lever is fixed, aseries of rock levers fixed to the rock shaft, andoperative connectionsbetween respective breakers and rock levers each including a resilientlextensible link, said reclosing' device ing provided with electricalcontrol means arranged to elfect primary reclosing of a respectivebreaker at a predetermined relatively short time interval and asecondary reclosing of said breaker at a relatively long time interval.

15. In combination, a series of main circuit breakers, a reclosingdevice including an oscillatory lever and electric motor means foroscillating the lever, a rock shafton which said lever is fixed, aseries of rock levers fixed to the rock shaft, operative connectionsbetween respective breakers and rock levers each including a resiliently.ex-

tensible link, and circuit controlled latching means for eachconnection, each latching means beingcontrolled by circuit conditions inthe circuit closedand opened by respective breaker, said reclosingdevice being provided with electrical control means arvcircuit breakers,a reclosing device, and independent operative connections between thebreakers and reclosing device each including an extensible andcollapsible link comprising sections, one longitudinally slidable withrespect to the other, and means yieldably holding said sections innormal relation to each other, and means to cut out the severaloperative connections arranged a to act on a respective connection u onthe connection operating to reclose its reaker a predetermined number oft1mes,.sa1d reclosing device being provided with electrical controlmeans'arranged to efiect primary reclosing of'a respective breaker at apredetermined relatively short time interval and a secondary reclosingof said breaker at a relatively long time interval.

.17. In combination, a plurality of main circuit breakers, a reclosingdevice, independent connecting means between each main circuit breakerand the reclosing device, together with disconnecting means operativewith each main circuit breaker, independently of the others, saidreclosing device beingprovided with electrical control means arranged toeffect the primary reclosing of a breaker at a predetermined relativelyshort-time interval and a second reclosing of said breaker at arelatively long time interval.

18. In combination, a plurality of main circuit breakers, a reclosingdevice, and independent operative connections between each of the maincircuit breakers and the reclosing device, together with means to cutout each of the operative connections after its operation to reclose itsmain circuit breaker a predetermined number of times, said reclosingdevice being provided with electrical control means arranged to effectthe primary reclosin of a breaker at a predetermined relative y shorttime interval and a second reclosing of said breaker at a relativelylong time interval.

19. In combination, a plurality of circuits, a circuit breaker in eachcircuit adapted to be opened automatically uponthe occurrence of aredetermined condition of the respective circuit, mechanism associatedwith each breaker arranged to close the same, driving means common toall of said mechanisms with elastic ccnnections between the drivingmeans and said mechanisms for actuating said mechanisms in re sponse tothe opening of any one of said circuit breakers, and means adapted to beoperated after a circuit breaker has been opened a predetermined numberof times to prevent the reclosing of said breaker by its respectivemechanism. 10

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

GEORGE HENRY MIDDLEMKSS.

